95: Mercedes-Benz A-Class – solving the premium hatchback conundrum

The whole idea of a 'premium' hatchback is a bit of a funny one. After all, what's the point of spending extra to have a spangly badge on the front of your five-door hatch when the mass-market options from VW, Ford, Toyota et al are so darned good. Mercedes attempts to answer this conundrum in two ways.

First of all, it gives the A-Class the MBUX interior, which uses a dramatic all-screen dashboard that frankly makes most other digital dashes look rather half-arsed.

Secondly, it gives the A-Class a four-doors saloon variant that does, somehow, manage to look and feel a bit more upmarket and which could conceivably tempt you out of a basic C-Class.

The only problem is that it’s all a bit dull to drive, thanks to a slightly flat chassis. Even the 300hp AMG A35 model is rather unexciting.

96: Audi Q5 – Lacks character, yet it’s a really good car

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97: Citroen C4 Spacetourer – remembering Picasso

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98: Ford Ranger Raptor – embrace your inner cowboy

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99: Bentley Continental GT – genuinely agile and sporty

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Best model: A180 AMG-Line saloon A/T for €35,730

Price range: €28,830 to €59,245 Finance from €330 per month.

Co2 emissions: 101 to 156g/km

Sum up: Appealing, but doesn't make much sense as a hatch.